Next steps for the Preston Market site

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has committed to five principles to guide new planning controls for the Preston Market site, preserving the market for generations to come.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) and Darebin City Council undertook extensive community engagement activities to understand the community’s views about the site and create a set of guiding principles to underpin the creation of new planning controls.

The five guiding principles which will inform the new planning controls for the site are:

• A thriving fresh food market
• A diversity of land uses and vibrant amenity
• Culturally diverse character and adaptable community spaces
• Sustainable, liveable and accessible precinct
• Flexible and efficient car parking and access.

The new controls will support the creation of new cycling and walking paths, better integration with Preston Station and a range of different land uses, including residential, retail and commercial.

Wide-ranging community engagement undertaken by the VPA and City of Darebin over a number of months included pop-up stalls, a Community Reference Group and an online survey, sparking meaningful discussions about priorities for the site’s future.

It is clear that community members highly value the Preston Market and want its unique character to remain through any renewal of the site.

This includes the market’s fresh food offering and airy feel, which were identified as important features that made up the “essence” of the market.

The VPA will work with the City of Darebin and the community to progress creation of new planning controls to facilitate these outcomes.

Community members will have further opportunities to provide valuable input into this project, with additional engagement to take place in early 2019.

The community engagement report, Community Reference Group report and planning review report are available for viewing here.